Severance

In that time between the first and second seasons, "Severance" lost none of its mind-bending electricity. .... “Severance” amplifies its intrigue without falling into the second-season trap of making key enigmas inscrutable or boring, a trap too many puzzle-box shows tumble into when challenged to top their triumphant first seasons.

Severance soars to new heights with its long-anticipated Season 2, exceeding our expectations by digging deeper and hitting harder than before.

The lauded Apple TV+ drama from creator Dan Erickson returns with a briskly paced sophomore season that refines its many themes into a timely, rewarding, and challenging debate about the power and parameters of personhood.

Suffice it to say, sitting down to watch this show isn’t an especially relaxing experience. By the end of its 9-episode first season, though, “Severance” becomes the best kind of TV surprise: one that rewards early patience with a real knockout of a back half.

After a storming Season One, Season Two expands and deepens the original mysteries while opening up new ones. Sharply made and skilfully executed, the employee benefits are there if you stay with it.

There’s a dark humor, absurdist vibe that, alongside the mysteries (What are the workers doing at Lumon? Why does Mark’s boss live next door to him?), makes “Severance” appealing. But some of that interest gets undone by over-long episodes and a thudding pace.

What exactly are we watching? As a critique of office life, it’s empty, and somewhat patronizing. ... There is certainly a strain of comedy being worked here, along with some seemingly random, one might say Buñuelian weirdnesses, but it is not often funny; at times, it feels meant as satire, but of what? ... The season finale is genuinely exciting and suspenseful, but, really, even as an advocate of slow television, we might have got there in half the time with twice the effect.

Why did I give this series a 10? Because any white-collar worker whose days are as monotonous as mine will find a piece of themselves in this show. While watching, I found myself repeatedly questioning whether such a system should exist or not. Ben Stiller's performance, which I didn't expect, also surprised me. Watching the episodes he directed was also enjoyable. My only wish is that we don't have to wait as long for season 3 as we did for season 2.

Pros: Great acting. Interesting premise. ----- Cons: drawn out story. Probably would have been better with half as many episodes Few pay offs. Predictable twists. ----- Suggestion: Watch a few episodes, admire the setting and quaint charm, then drop it.

Adam Scott stars as one of several employees who have had the titular procedure that divides their memories into 2 parts: work and personal. As a result, each side doesn't know anything about the other. On the plus, the visuals are strikingly stark, sterile and stylized. On the negative, things happen with tedious slowness. While there are consistent ominous overtones, the tension doesn't develop. The final episode ramps up the stakes, but leaves things hanging for Season 2. The cast also includes Patricia Arquette (as the creepy boss), John Turturro (as one of the workers) and Christopher Walken (as the man he befriends). It was directed by Ben Stiller, who certainly has a way with visual uniqueness, but his abilities at generating pace and pressure require lots of patience. (Nine one-hour episodes)

I'm reviewing this after watching 5 episode, not sure I'll watch more. I really can't understand where the hype is coming from. Friends, critics I like recommended it, reviews are really good. What for? There is almost nothing to like it, the setting is very bland, the characters are all unlikeable. I don't like any of the actor, the main one can't make one expression (something that is even referenced in the 5th episode when he has to make "nice eyes"). The story is weird and do you really care about the mysteries and what they're doing in this company and who is behind it? They don't behave like real people, it's really bland and emotionless. The only person you have sympathy for is the woman who recognizes the madness of it all and tries everything to escape. It's a really colorless show with colorless characters acting in a colorless setting (literally all white with no decorations). Really nothing to get attached to. I give it a couple of points for the production quality, it's quite good.

Compelling first and last episodes with lots of undisciplined tire-spinning in between; a feature-length film time-stretched into 9 episodes; characterization feels anemic for how character-centric the concept would seem. Biggest problem: low stakes. There isn't enough danger or threat of suffering to push characters into truly elevated reactive scenarios.